Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, praised Israel as the global leader in innovation per capita during a virtual appearance at a major technology conference in Tel Aviv, drawing immediate amplification from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

“I’m a huge admirer of the innovation coming out of Israel,” the Tesla and SpaceX owner said Monday in video remarks at the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit at Expo Tel Aviv. “I think it is objectively true that Israel punches high above its weight for population.”

“My hat is off to Israel for just how much incredible innovation,” he added. “I’d say innovation per capita, Israel must be number one in the world.”

Netanyahu shared video of the remarks in an X post on Tuesday, thanking “the world’s leading man in innovation.” The endorsement, delivered by the chief executive of two of the world’s most prominent technology firms at a government-hosted conference, lands at a moment of acute international scrutiny over Israeli policy and offered the prime minister a high-profile boost from one of the most influential figures in global business.

Musk had been scheduled to deliver the in-person keynote address at the summit in March, but the event was postponed following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Speaking from Austin, Texas, at roughly 2 a.m. local time, he apologized for not making the trip.

“I would be there in person, but this is IPO, you know, going to get the IPO, SpaceX IPO going pretty soon, I think,” Musk said. He added that he hoped to visit Israel again in the near future.

His last visit to Israel was in November 2023, when he toured Kibbutz Kfar Aza alongside Netanyahu in the weeks after the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre and met with families of hostages and victims. That trip coincided with negotiations over a Starlink agreement that was subsequently finalized.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)